The US Department of Transportation agreed to President Michel Sleiman’s request to establish a partnership system in Lebanon while he was in the States on an official three-day visit last week, the president told the press after meeting with Head of Middle East Airlines (MEA) Mohammad Hout on Thursday.
Sleiman added that such a system would mean direct commercial flights from Beirut to the US, and from Beirut to Canada at a later stage.
-NOW Lebanon
(http://www.nowlebanon.com/NewsArchiveDetails.aspx?ID=133137)
For years, the right of a direct flight between Lebanon and the North American Continent has been strictly prohibited for security reasons. In fact, recently Air Canada announced the beginning of its direct service to Beirut but the United States government put a stop to it.
With the partnership now announced, there are rumors of a direct flight, but the more reasonable would think otherwise. It is most likely that a connection will be created, perhaps CDG-JFK for example with DL/ME/AF flight number, and the DL flight number will be added to the BEY-CDG route. The reason this seems to be the most appropriate solution is because the United State, though interested in flight to Beirut, isn't convinced of the security measures. Passing through a European airport will solve this conflict entirely. Moreover, with MEA's close relationship with Air France and the Skyteam relationship between all three parties, this code share will provide the best connection possibilities and will be the easiest to implement.
If this were to successfully be initiated (probably not in the coming few years) it would mean more than just a ME flight number to North America, but rather a re-ignited interest by Air Canada, a possible interest by Sir Richard Branson since a large portion of MEA's traffic connects aboard these two airlines at Heathrow. Perhaps this small step will set free a fireball creating multiple connections between RHIA and the US and Canada, but first thing first. Beirut airport is expected to have crossed 80% of its capacity this year (more than five million passangers out of a total capacity of six million) and although there is work taking place, the focus has recently been on the GA Terminal and the private jet hangars, and currently the TMA hangars (resuming operation in the near future), the commercial terminal is yet to undergo expansion.
So going back to the matter at hand. How soon could we see this partnership materializing? What will be the after effects? Feel free to join the discussion about the topic at the airliners.net forums.
